MINNEAPOLIS – Earlier today in federal court, a career criminal was indicted in connection with the New Year’s Eve armed robbery of a Quiznos sandwich shop in Roseville. Michael Scott Luedtke, age 25, no known address, was charged with one count of interference with commerce by robbery, pursuant to the Hobbs Act; one count of possession of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; one count of possession of an unregistered sawed-off shotgun; and one count of possession of a firearm by an armed career criminal. The indictment alleges that on December 31, 2011, Luedtke attempted to rob the store by threatening an employee with a sawed-off shotgun.

Reportedly, the shotgun had a barrel length of 13 inches and an overall length of 18.5 inches, which is illegal, and was not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Furthermore, because he is a felon, Luedtke is prohibited under federal law from possessing any type of firearm at any time. His prior Hennepin County convictions include terroristic threats (2006), robbery (2008), and aggravated robbery (2008). Since those offenses were crimes of violence, Luedtke, if convicted in the current case, will be sentenced under the federal Armed Career Criminal Act. That act mandates a minimum of 15 years in federal prison for anyone convicted in federal court of being a felon in possession of a firearm if that person has at least three prior state or federal convictions for crimes of violence or serious drug crimes.

If convicted, Luedtke also faces a potential maximum penalty of life in prison for possession of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; 20 years for violating the Hobbs Act; and ten years for possession of an unregistered, sawed-off shotgun. All sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge.

The Hobbs Act, passed by Congress in 1946, allows federal prosecutors to prosecute violent habitual criminals who commit armed robberies in places of business that involve interstate commerce. Federal prosecution of these cases is sometimes beneficial since federal penalties are often tougher than those imposed under state law. Moreover, because the federal system has no parole, those who receive federal sentences serve virtually the entire prison term behind bars.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Roseville Police Department, the St. Paul Police Department, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carol M. Kayser and Thomas M. Hollenhorst.

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An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by a defendant. A defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until he or she pleads guilty or is proven guilty at trial.

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Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives United States Department of Justice